Skid steer
GPS tracking and pre-starts for skid steers.
Live tracking, PROSTART® pre-starts with immobilisation, engine-hours servicing, anti-theft with active recovery. Preferred kit on skid steers: Ruptela Smart5 hardwired + Ruptela Asset5 as a hidden backup tracker.
Recommended hardware
Preferred kit: Ruptela Smart5 hardwired for PROSTART® immobilisation and CANBUS reads, paired with a hidden Ruptela Asset5 as a Bluetooth-detected backup tracker — Asset5 enters recovery mode when it can't hear the Smart5. Teltonika FMC650 + Teltonika Dashcam / DualCam where the skid steer is fully enclosed and video coverage adds a layer of security.
Capabilities
What Teletrack does on a skid steer
Live GPS tracking
Position updates every few seconds. Trip history per machine, route playback across site. Hire desks and supervisors see where the machine is without ringing.
PROSTART® pre-starts
Machine won't start until daily pre-start passes. Operator ID via RFID, iButton, keypad. Custom questionnaires per machine type built by your safety team. Fails immobilise and auto-create work orders.
Engine hours & servicing
Engine hours flow from tracker into platform. 250/500/1000-hour intervals auto-trigger work orders. Useful for hire billing and warranty tracking.
Anti-theft & recovery
Skid steers are persistent theft targets. Movement outside agreed hours or geofences triggers alerts. Active recovery support if machine is stolen.
CANBUS fault codes
On machines with exposed engine data, fault codes flow from CAN bus into platform. Engine warnings, hydraulic faults, DPF status. Catches issues before breakdowns.
Geofencing & alerts
Draw zones around job sites, yard, or 'do not leave' boundaries. Alerts on entry/exit/movement outside hours. Useful for hire (off-hire detection) and multi-site management.
Hardware
Recommended hardware for skid steers
Preferred: Ruptela Smart5 + Asset5 backup
Smart5 hardwired in the cab for PROSTART® pre-starts with immobilisation, CANBUS / J1939 fault code reading where the machine exposes it, engine-hours, and RFID operator ID. A hidden Ruptela Asset5 pairs over Bluetooth as a defence-in-depth backup tracker — when the Asset5 can't hear the Smart5's BLE signal (typically because a thief has found and disabled the visible tracker), it enters recovery mode automatically with higher reporting frequency and an alert to Teletrack. Skid steers are persistent theft targets — this two-tracker setup is the right kit.
Smart5 detail →Fully enclosed cab: Teltonika FMC650 + Dashcam
Where the skid steer has a fully enclosed cab and video coverage adds a layer of security or site-spec compliance, Teltonika FMC650 hardwired with a Teltonika Dashcam (single forward-facing) or DualCam (forward + driver-facing) gives you the telematics + video kit. Pair with the Ruptela Asset5 backup tracker the same way as the Smart5 setup for theft-recovery defence-in-depth.
Dashcam options →Install
Professional hardwired install
Hardwired install via our nationwide auto-electrician partner network — typically 30–60 minutes per machine for tracker-only fit. For PROSTART®, add relay wiring into the starter circuit so immobilisation works.
We arrange install and quote per machine based on location. For fleets with preferred installers, we provide diagrams and phone support. Bulk installs across a yard or hire-fleet check-in run are scheduled in a couple of days for typical fleet sizes — predictable per-asset rate.
Common questions
Does PROSTART® immobilisation work on every skid steer brand?
Yes. PROSTART® works via a relay wired into the starter circuit, and the Ruptela Smart5 (preferred) and Teltonika FMC650 (where you also need a dashcam) both support it. We've fitted skid steers across major AU brands. Always confirm in pre-install consultation — older or unusual machines may need different relay config.
Will it read CANBUS on my skid steer?
Depends on the machine. The Smart5 and FMC650 both read CANBUS / J1939 where the skid steer exposes engine data — engine hours, fault codes, fuel level. Older machines without CAN return GPS, engine-on status, battery voltage but no deeper diagnostics. We confirm per make / model in scoping.
Can Teletrack help if my skid steer is stolen?
Yes. Platform's live location data is what police ask for. Our support team helps you locate the machine and coordinate with law enforcement. We don't guarantee recovery — outcomes depend on how quickly theft is reported and where the machine has been moved — but we've helped customers recover stolen plant. Skid steers in particular are persistent theft targets, which is why we recommend the Asset5 backup tracker setup as the default: when a thief disables the visible hardwired tracker, the hidden Asset5 picks up the recovery effort automatically.
How does PROSTART® work specifically?
Operator scans RFID card, iButton, or enters keypad PIN. Pre-start runs on phone, tablet, or in-cab device — daily safety checklist built by your safety team. Every required check passes, machine unlocks. Any fail logs photo evidence, immobilises, and routes work order to technician.
Can I run skid steers alongside excavators and telehandlers?
Yes — that's the default. Mixed-plant fleets run one subscription with the right tracker per machine. Same dashboard, same operator app, same pre-start workflow across the lot.
See Teletrack on your skid steer fleet
30-minute demo shows PROSTART® on a skid steer with immobilisation, engine-hours servicing, anti-theft alerts, and how hardware choice fits your specific machine make and age.
See it on your fleet.
A 30-minute demo is the fastest way to see what Teletrack does on skid steer.